Month: September 2013

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The POWER of LME!

It probably goes without saying that two heads are always better than one…especially when our own Miller Power Team (Hans and Franz) are involved.  These guys made a special appearance this morning during Rally to “pump us up” about the The Power of Miller, our campus-wide FUNdraiser for this school year.  Because we believe in the POWER of our learners, their classroom leaders, and our learning community, we believe we can impact our own lives and the lives of those around us in a POWERful way this year.

In place of previous programs and companies, we are completely doing our own idea this year and we need your support!  Please watch for The POWER of Miller family packet coming home today.  In this packet, you will find:

  • Letter about the event on 9/26/2013 (white copy);
  • POWER of Miller Family Charity Voting Ballot (1/2 blue sheet);
  • POWER of Miller Reservation and Celebration Permission Form (bright orange dual form);
  • POWER of Miller Scorecard (white cardstock form for collecting sponsors).

You will send back everything to your child’s homeroom teacher except the letter explaining our event by Sept. 25th.  Please let us know if you have questions too.

It is our sincere hope and desire to always emPOWER our learners and their families to succeed everyday.  We greatly anticipate your support and encouragement as we truly discover The POWER of LaRue Miller specials teamElementary!

Note:  Special thanks to our dynamic Specials Team who took on this huge project; thanks, Hans and Franz…we’ll be seeing you again soon!  🙂

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Volunteers are vital!

volunteers1You may have heard the saying, “Volunteers don’t get paid because they’re worthless but because they’re priceless.”  We are so blessed at LME to have the hardest working volunteers in our growing learning community everyday!  Just today, these ladies answered the call to assist with our upcoming LME “The POWER of Miller” fundraiser kick-off by preparing family packets to go home tomorrow (more on this tomorrow).  Conversation, laughter, and great work ensued; they had the job completed in no time and asked for more!  🙂  volunteers2Special thanks today goes to Jennifer Davis, Rachel Hedgcoth, Brandy Ricketts, Sherry Emerson, Cathy Jackson, Jennifer Campbell, Amy Hubbard, and Sarah Johnson.  Mrs. Huff says, “You ROCK!”  🙂

Tonight, we had several of our Head Start families participate in their first family meeting of the school year.  Thanks to two of our HS moms for volunteering to represent our campus and program on the Region 10 District Policy Council tonight too!

As our own Mrs. Miller always says, “The goal is simple…to help you achieve yours.”  We are truly grateful to our vital volunteers who help us achieve all our goals everyday!

Note:  We need our D.A.D.S. to answer the call and help us out each morning!  Please join us in the car lines to greet and assist our learners coming into the building each day.

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Homecoming 2013

Homecoming…a time to come home to traditions, fellowship, 12homecomingand fun.  In the elementary world especially, our young learners may not completely comprehend the hoopla, but they most certainly love a great parade…and they squeal with delight when our Midlothian Panther Football Readers catch up to them too!

The annual Homecoming Parade has traditionally been a big deal in Midlothian ISD and this year is certainly no exception!  Our supportive learning community, students, and staff members truly enJOY showcasing their hometown Panther Pride and Spirit.  Please mark your calendar for this year’s parade on Friday, September 27 at 3 p.m.  Don’t forget to get your tickets early for the big game and come out to support the MHS Panthers as they tackle the Grand Prairie Gophers at 7:30 p.m. at the MISD Multi-Purpose Stadium. Download PDF for details.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Turtles and pathways…

During walkabout today, I had a wonderfully delightful turtlepicconversation with a friend who shared this great artwork and talked about sea turtles.

  • Did you know that female sea turtles swim to shore between May and August to dig nests in the sand and lay their eggs?
  • Did you know that months later, the eggs hatch and the baby turtles follow the pure light of the moon back to the surf and their families?
  • Did you know sea turtles loved the sea?  🙂

Sea turtles instinctively crawl toward the brightest light.  On an undeveloped beach, this light would naturally be the moon, but on a developed beach area, this light comes from homes, businesses, or other sources.  Sometimes this artificial light causes the baby turtles to move in the wrong direction, thus creating a bad outcome for all.

In the course our conversation, it occurred to me again how we sometimes face this same challenge when making good choices here at school (and I spend a great deal of time talking and modeling ‘good choices’ you know!).  🙂  This particular little friend spends some time with me occasionally for “refreshers.”  It’s simple really:  rather than follow the path of a good choice, we get distracted by something artificially bright moving us in the wrong direction.  Often times, we sabotage ourselves.  Just like the sea turtles, we forget to follow our path and allow meaningless things to keep us from being our personal best.

What a powerful analogy, huh?!  Just like this positive opportunity today, I encourage you to take time to talk with your child about those busy, meaningless distractions that get in the way and how best to focus on the priorities leading to ultimate success.  Just like those sea turtles, there’s an ocean of possible pathways if we follow the pure light.

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We LOVE our grandparents!

AveryIt’s been noted, “Education is simply the soul of society as it passes from one generation to the next…”  Our campus was filled to overflowing today with great wisdom and life as we celebrated our beloved grandparents during all Jimmysix lunch periods.  Our tables, bellies, and hearts were filled to capacity with food, fellowship, and family fun.  Special thanks to our extraordinary PTO for sponsoring this event.  Most importantly, many thanks to the grandparents and parents who chose to participate, smiled and laughed, modeled stellar table manners, shared great stories, and assisted patiently throughout the event.

Our young Fisherstudents proudly stand on your shoulders of strong foundations as they continue to learn, grow, and love into the next generation.  Have a blessed weekend, LME!  🙂

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Meet the Staff, Part II

From the primary (foundational) teams to the intermediate (upstairs BIG kid) teams, we are truly blessed with extraordinary educators who commit time, talents, teaching gifts, and unlimited service to all learners at LME:

3rdgrade

Third Grade Team members include Amy Clark, Jean Waddill, Andrew Morgan, and Jennifer Rinehart.

The Fourth Grade Team consists of Brittany Cole, 4th teamJane Crisp, Jennifer Kids, Rachel McKee, and Shannon Williams.

5th teamThe Fifth Grade Team members include Sherrie Gunter (Social Studies), Susan Bly (Reading/Language Arts), Jennifer Lassetter (Math), and Laurie Garippa (Science).  Our fifth graders rotate between these four core subject classes.

Our Specials Team is shy, but they promise to share a picture with you in the coming week.  🙂  Please continue attending the important Parent Meetings during this month, asking those questions, and sharing your successes with our amazing LME team members.

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Meet the Staff; Part I

It’s time to share our annual staff group pictures.  We are so blessed to have educators who not only dedicate each day to learners but truly enJOY what they do in the process.  After all, it’s all about the journey…Hooray to the coaches on our winning LME Team this year!

HS teamOur Head Start Team this year:  Adrienne Mitchell, teacher; Jurae Greiten, teacher; and Amber Martin, instructional aide.kteam

The Kinder Team this year includes Lauren Bergvall, Roanna Nanney, Michelle Spradley, and Karyn Story.

1st teamFirst Grade teachers include Judy King, Katie Bergvall, Susie Dickard, Emily Stanley, and Stephanie Daniell.

2nd teamSecond grade teachers are Joy Cowan, Nikki Hoover, Heather Cooper, and Lana Beckwith.

SPED teamOur Special Education Team includes Shanna Horton (LEAD/CBI), Kacey Long (diagnostician), Delaina Wimpee (Speech/LEAD), Chandra Filmore (CBI/PPCD), Traci Samek (Inclusion/Co-Teach), Nancy Walts (CBI/PPCD), Christy McAfee (CBI), Ann Beller (CBI/PPCD), Danielle Schrodt (CM/Inclusion), Brittany Mach (Resource/Inclusion), Kris Roberts (CM/Inclusion), Bethany Griffin-Loftis (ESL/dyslexia), Erika Allen (Speech), Angela Coleman (PPCD), and Rachel McKee (AI/Deaf Education).

Part II tomorrow… 🙂

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LME PTO rocks!

We are blessed at LME with a PTO organization who supports and encourages our daily school work and campus programs.  Not only does the Board do everything within their power to ensure we have the best, they actively demonstrate what it means to be the BEST everyday.  PTO-logo-blue-verticalBoard members this year are:  Nicole Blackmon, Amy Byers, Gayle Turner, Cara Roberson, Heather Prather, Christy Clenney, Kristina West, Khristy Hullet, Sarah Johnson, Teresa Heath, and Kim Huff.  They each invite you to share your feedback and ideas as they strive to improve performance and communications within our gorwing learning community.

Parents, you recently received a packet of important PTO information to review sharing the various ways you can be involved this year.  Please take a moment to read and return your completed forms (including your membership application) to join us this year as we “Knock One Out of the Park for LME!” 

Likewise, LME Spirit Wear orders are in full swing at this time.  Order forms went home in first-day packets, but the front office will hook you up as well.  The black shirts feature a panther with the slogan:  The BEST things come in blue-n-white!  T-shirts, hoodies, wristbands, and water bottles are all for sale.  Orders should be submitted by the end of September.

Fun fact:  Did you know our LME PTO was instrumental in ensuring we had enough funds to construct our gym Rock Wall before we even opened the LME doors in 2008?  Our PTO literally ROCKS!  We could never do the extraordinary work without the daily assistance of our active PTO.  Please join our staff in the many activities by serving where you can throughout the coming year…and special thanks to the leaders of our LME PTO!